My interview with H2O Magazine

Thank you for the gorgeous feature interview, H2O Magazine! In my first issue as Editorial Director we had a great Q&A session, and I was able to share some of my favourite photos.

Here’s the first question:

Q: Can you share the story of how your passion for fly fishing first began?

 A: My passion for fly fishing emerged in the year following my first cycling accident when I was hit by a car. While I was still undergoing surgeries and treatment to recover from a brain injury, I was determined to return to training and racing at an elite level. Although I wouldn’t admit it at the time, I was not only grappling with the effects of my injuries but also dealing with PTSD from the trauma of the accident. I found it increasingly difficult to be around people and began spending more time alone. During that period, I was living part-time in Arizona and would often go to Oak Creek in Sedona on my recovery days. I loved sitting by the water, away from everything and everyone.

In those moments, I wasn’t thinking about my injuries, the accident, the pressure of racing or competition, or the fears and anxieties I was facing as a result – I was simply captivated by trying to spot trout. That’s when my childhood memories of fishing resurfaced.

I recalled being 4 or 5 years old, trying to catch trout in a brook near my childhood home. I vividly remembered the joy I felt when I finally caught one. That joy was what missing from my life, and that’s how the idea of fly fishing came to me.

I didn’t know anyone who fly-fished, so I hired a guide and went fly fishing the following week. Taking that initial step was one of the greatest choices I’ve ever made. Fly fishing taught me to pay attention to what’s happening beneath the surface, both in the water and within myself. Learning to read water and think like a fish shifted my focus. It required me to look beyond what’s visible on the surface and notice the subtle cues that tell a bigger story.